Minister for Housing and Planning Jan O'Sullivan set 2016 as the target for ending long-term homelessness.

Minister O'Sullivan was speaking at the launch of the Government's Homelessness Policy Statement at the Custom House in Dublin.

Minister O'Sullivan said: "Homelessness is an affront to every value that we assign to the concept of citizenship. In a real republic there is an onus on us all to ensure that all citizens have a place they can call home.

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"As Minister for Housing, I am committed to ending long-term homelessness and today I am setting 2016 as the target date. Achieving this important goal in the year that marks the centenary of the 1916 Rising is something I would urge everyone to support.

"In addition to setting 2016 as the target for ending long-term homelessness the Homelessness Policy Statement also puts the 'housing-led' philosophy at the centre of policy in this area.

"Housing-led approachs to homelessness provide better outcomes for people. The idea behind the policy is that people are provided with long-term, stable housing as early as possible. It moves away from the traditional ‘staircase’ model which sees individuals and families move between various stages, including emergency accommodation, before eventually securing an appropriate place."

(CD/GK)